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"Uprising" is a song by English alternative rock band Muse, featured on their fifth studio album The Resistance. Written by lead vocalist and guitarist Matthew Bellamy,[1] the song was released as the lead single from the album on 7 September 2009. The song remained at the #1 position on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart for 17 nonconsecutive weeks, and has become the band's most successful song in the United States. The song was mixed by Mark 'Spike' Stent.[2] It was also the last UK single to top an American chart for the 2000s, according to the 30 December 2009 Nielsen BDS alternative chart, and also the first UK single to top an American chart for the 2010s.

Excerpts are used in the trailers for the 2010 Tom Cruise/Cameron Diaz spy comedy Knight and Day, promotions for the US television series V, featured as the track for the 2010 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Finale, the trailer for the 2010 TV miniseries Sherlock, and the song is a playable track in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.

This song was covered by American avant-garde metal band Iwrestledabearonce and it was included on soundtrack for video game Homefront.

Background and composition

The title "Uprising" was first revealed on 3 July 2009, when the album's track listing was released sporadically on the band's Twitter page; the song was unveiled as the opening track of the album, preceding the title track "Resistance".[3] In a pre-release review, French media source JudeBox described the song as follows:

Matt Bellamy’s voice is more serious and academic than usual. However it is delivered in a similar vein: Conspiracy, Apocalypse … He announces a “union”, speaks of “victory” that “they do not control.” Sound is still very heavy and dense, accompanied by mounted synthesizers. The structure of the song is simple for once.[4]

The song is often considered to be based on the hit Blondie song "Call Me",[citation needed] because of the thumping bass line and the occasional lead guitar riff (Blondie have in turn referenced this in their live performances by singing the lyrics of "Call Me" whilst covering the music of "Uprising", most notably at the RockNess festival in June 2010[citation needed]). However, "Uprising" can be argued to have more in common with the Black Sabbath song "Children of the Grave" which Blondie's "Call Me" may have been based on.[5] Many journalists have mentioned that "Uprising" is similar to the theme music for Doctor Who,[6][7][8] and the 1988 hit single Doctorin' the Tardis by The KLF.[9]

Release and reception

While "United States of Eurasia" was initially thought by the Muse fan community to be the first single due for release, Muse revealed, via their Twitter page, that it would in fact be "Uprising".[10] It was revealed in July 2009 that the band would perform at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. They played at the theatre across the street from where the VMAs were held, and were introduced by Gerard Butler.[11] On 28 July 2009 Zane Lowe played a 32 second sample on BBC Radio 1 ahead of its first play in full on 3 August 2009. The song peaked at #9 on the UK Singles Chart and is the band's fourth top 10 single on that chart. The song was a huge success in Poland, going up to number 1 on the Singles Chart.

After being released to radio in the United States, the single reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Alternative Songs chart on 9 September 2009,[12] becoming Muse's 6th Top 10 single and first #1 on that chart, eventually spending 17 weeks at #1, becoming the second longest running #1 song ever on the chart. It became their first Billboard Hot 100 single (and Top 40 single), peaking at #37 on the week ending 3 October 2009 and spent 20 weeks on the Hot 100. It has sold 2,170,000 copies in the US as of April 2013.[13]

"Uprising" won the Best Single award at the 2010 Music Producers Guild Awards in London.[14]

Uses

Sports

Used when the Sydney Roosters enter the field at their home games.

Used by Sky Sports for the Ashes Cricket intro 2010/11

Used in the Calgary Flames intro video before every home game.

Frequently sung at San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball home games.

UFC heavyweight Ben Rothwell walked out to the song during UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans, where he defeated Brendan Schaub via a first round TKO

Part of the song was used in the opening ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Television

American Idol season ten contestant James Durbin performed the song during Music from the 21st Century week.

Music

Kylie Minogue Aphrodite World Tour - samples of "Uprising" were used during the reconstructed live version of "Can't Get You Out Of My Head", which was arranged by Steve Anderson and Kylie Minogue

Games

A cover by Iwrestledabearonce for the FPS game Homefront.

Music video

The music video, directed by American collective Hydra (Sam Stephens, John Hobbs and others), first aired on MTV2 on 17 September 2009.[15] The band performs through a miniature city in a small truck, with a lit fuse following behind. At times, they are also seen performing inside a trailer which seems to be exploding. Through the window of a TV shop the band at one point looks at TVs with teddy bears on the screens; Matt smashes the window and TVs with his guitar. At the end of the video a group of teddy bears (with small fangs, claws and reptilian eyes) rise up from the ground and start destroying the miniature city, only to fall down at the end of the video. This is said to pay homage to the climactic scene in Ghostbusters, one shot even mirroring the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man's introduction.[16]

The video won "Best Special Effects" in the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, but lost "Best Rock Video" to 30 Seconds to Mars's "Kings and Queens".

References

^ '"Uprising"' (Back sleeve). Warner Music Group. 2009. WEA458.

^ http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb10/articles/it_0210.htm

^ "The Resistance: The Tracklisting". Muse. 4 July 2009. Retrieved 20 July 2009.